• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

“On starting the surveys, our Historic first business was to find the Columbia beauty spots, or those points where the most beautiful River things along the line might be Highway seen in the best advantage, and if possible to locate the road in such a way as to reach them.” Samuel Lancaster, HCRH Engineer Oregon Scenic Byway Imagine crafting a national treasure on a landscape so revered that each viewpoint is protected, the design and materials in complete harmony with the natural elements, and the creation so good that people come from all over the world to marvel at its perfection. This is the Historic Columbia River Highway—the King of Roads—a pathway along the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. Whether you are seeing it for the first time or know every inch by heart, each time you experience the Highway, you begin the journey anew. Historic Columbia River Highway & State trail A Bridge To The Past Poetry In Stone Echoes From The Past DODSON/AINSWORTH – EXIT 35 AINSWORTH STATE PARK HORSETAIL R FALLS E ONEONTA V GORGE I R MULTNOMAH FALLS WAHKEENA A I B M EXIT 28 U L BRIDAL VEIL Legend O TROUTDALE C EXIT 18 – Oregon State Park SHEPPERD’S DELL LEWIS & CLARK CORBETT LATOURELL FALLS – US Forest Service PORTLAND CROWN POINT/ HISTORIC VISTA HOUSE DABNEY WOMEN’S FORUM – Historic Highway ROUTE SANDY RIVER – Fee Required – HCRH open to motor vehicles – Hiking & biking only From the very beginning, people have history, at a time when the river and trails and cascades. They built railroads as the found the Columbia River Gorge a spec- through the Columbia Gorge served a timber and fishing industries grew. And tacular sight, a place to protect and thriving Native American trade network as America’s love for the Model “T” preserve for future generations to experi- stretching far beyond the Pacific reached the Northwest, there was talk of ence and enjoy. In 1986, the Columbia Northwest. It was only 200 years ago building a road. River Gorge became the first and only when Lewis and Clark became the first to National Scenic Area in the United write of the indigenous peoples of the The Historic Columbia River Highway is States, a designation that protects and Gorge, the mighty River of the West, and a tale of visionaries, civic leaders, skilled enhances the scenic, cultural, natural, the natural wonders found here. Their engineers and talented craftsmen. and recreation resources while encourag- words introduced a nation to the romance Without benefit of modern construction ing compatible growth and economic and riches of the Pacific Northwest. By equipment and computer-aided design, development. The Columbia River the 1850s, pioneers coming across the they laid down the first major paved road Gorge National Scenic Area is a remark- Oregon Trail had already settled along in the Pacific Northwest along what could able joining of public and private inter- the river, finding ways to meet the chal- have been considered an impossible route. ests all committed to stewardship of the lenging route along the Columbia. The They did it with men, horses, and innova- place the locals simply call “the Gorge.” emigrants built portages, canals and locks tive machinery. And they did it with ele- The story begins long before recorded to move people and goods around rapids gance, reconciling the beauty of nature 3 VIENTO MEMALOOSE OVERLOOK TOM MCCALL PRESERVE HOOD RIVER STARVATION CREEK MOSIER MOSIER A Bridge TWIN TUNNELS ROWENA CREST BONNEVILLE DAM Restoration & CASCADE To The Past LOCKS Reconnection STATE TRAIL HIKING EAGLE CREEK & BIKING R ONLY Land Of E V GORGE I 35 Contrast DISCOVERY STATE TRAIL R CENTER WARRENDALE HIKING & BIKING ONLY D O THE DALLES O DODSON/AINSWORTH – EXIT 35 H AINSWORTH STATE PARK Traveling the Historic Highway and State Trail A tour of the Historic Highway can take a few hours or a few days, depending on the time you have to spend enjoying each site along the way. Take a look at the map and you’ll see the segments that can be driven and those which have been re-opened for hiking and biking. Arched railings along the Multnomah Falls viaducts. You’ll be able to HISTORIC follow the US 30 with the needs of civilization. Lawyer, and by 1922 Portland was connected to signs marking the “good roads” advocate and entrepreneur The Dalles by a paved road. Over the motorized route of Sam Hill envisioned more than a route years, this grand road was replaced by a the Historic Highway. ROUTE through the Columbia River Gorge. He modern highway and many of its trea- inspired the construction of a highway sures lost. Tunnels were filled and Original parts of the road are still to rival the great roads of Europe. bridges destroyed, but thanks to the narrow and winding, and not rec- Together with engineer Samuel efforts of many dedicated advocates, the ommended for large motorhomes. Lancaster, Hill championed his vision Highway is being restored. Today, you When stopping along the highway, for a road winding high above the can still drive segments of the Historic you’ll want to make sure that you Columbia to Portland civic leaders John Columbia River Highway and walk or have secured your valuables. Keep B. Yeon, Simon Benson, Julius Meier, bicycle along once-abandoned sections an eye out for bicyclists and hikers Henry L. Pittock, C.S. Jackson, and that have been restored as the Historic who often share this route. And others. In 1913, construction began, Columbia River Highway State Trail. remember you are out in nature. 4 “We will cash in, year after year, on our crop of scenic beauty, without depleting it in any way.” Sam Hill Stark Street Bridge over the Sandy River is one of the two western gateways onto the Historic Columbia River Highway. Echoes From The Past eginning on the banks of the longer the bustling farm towns they graceful arches and “guard rocks” BSandy River, the Historic once were, they stand now as quiet laid out by skilled craftsman. One Columbia River Highway winds gen- neighbors along the Highway, a of the most distinctive features of tly past a tree-lined shore not far from place for folks to enjoy country liv- the Historic Columbia River where Lewis and Clark camped in ing not far from the city. Highway is its masonry. Look for 1805. They called it the “Quicksand the differences in masonry and see River” for in those days it ran with a At Portland Women’s Forum State if you can tell which work is gritty and murky look. Majestic Mt. Park at Chanticleer Point you get original and which is new. Look, Hood to the east—an icon of your first look at the Columbia River too, for the reconstructed concrete Oregon’s landscape—had recently and the Columbia River Gorge—the mile markers and the white erupted, spilling ash into the headwa- vista that inspired Sam Hill to create wooden guardrails, both efforts to ters of the Sandy high in the the Highway. In the distance you replace the original elements of the Cascades. You’ll see the snow-capped catch sight of the next major view- highway and recall the visual mountain as you meander your way point at Crown Point. On your way reminders of a time when motoring past upland orchards and blueberry there, you’ll see more of the struc- through the Gorge was done at a fields through the historic communi- tures associated with the Historic slower pace. ties of Springdale and Corbett. No Highway: stone guard walls with EXIT 17 EXIT 18 EXIT 22 TROUTDALE NE CORBETT HILL RD. JO S R A D A N N RD D 257TH DR Y . R I LEWIS & CLARK . V ILL RD TT H E STATE PARK I-84 E B R R HCRH O H OTHER ROADS C IS E T RAILROAD N O R I C C O LU M B I-84 IA Vista R House HCRH IV CORBETT E LUMBIA RI R CO VE OTHER ROADS IC R HW H TOR Y W HIS RAILROAD Y You will find the beginning of the Historic Columbia River The community of Corbett is located on the old highway and Highway in Troutdale on the east side of the Sandy River can be reached from I-84, exit 22 via Corbett Hill Road. near Lewis and Clark State Park. 6 “An observatory from which the view both up and down Poetry the Columbia could be viewed In Stone in silent communication with the infinite.” Samuel Lancaster he Vista House at Crown Point HCRH Engineer Tis an Oregon treasure, one of the most photographed and recog- nizable sites in the Columbia River Gorge. Built as a memorial to Oregon pioneers, it sits atop a high point on the drive, offering an awe- inspiring view up and down the Columbia River, down to Rooster Rock and across to the mountains of Washington State. Described by its architect, Edgar Lazarus, as “a temple to the natural beauty of the Gorge,” this mountaintop aerie didn’t start out to be quite so grand. Early plans called for a simple concrete and wood rest-stop to serve travelers, but thanks to civic leadership, vision, and a bit of persistence, the modest com- fort station grew into the elegant building we have today—a symbol of the Gorge and the pride of Oregon. Crown Point is now a National Natural Landmark and the would-be “simple rest-stop” is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Vista House has been renovated with the same civic spirit that inspired its creation.

Load more

  16

Copy Link